Rail-joint.



PATENTED JUNE 28', 1904.

D. 0. BRUNNER.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 6. 1904.

,Danfon 7.15 I u n n e r.

DANTON 0. BRUNNER, or SOMERSET,

Patented June 28, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WVILLIAM E. MILLER, OF SOMERSET, OHIO.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,848, dated June 2 8, 1904.

'Applieation filed January 6, 1904x To all. w/mm fl may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANTON O. BRUNNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerset, in the county of Perry and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in railjoints; and its object is to provide fish-plates of novel construction which dispense with the use of bolts ordinarily employed and which are adapted to securely clamp the abutting ends of rails together and prevent accidental displacement thereof.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consist-s of fish-plates, one of which has stems extending laterally therefrom adapted to project through the bolt-holes in the ends of the rails. These stems have angular recesses in their lower faces and are adaptedto project through apertures formed within the other fish-plate. The lower walls of these apertures are inclined, so as to pro: ject into and engage the recesses in the stems, thereby causing the two fish-plates to interlock at opposite sides of the rails and securely hold the rails.

The invention also consists of fish-plates which are adapted to be secured in position by spikes of the usual construction and which are driven into the ties under the rails.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention,- and in which Figure 1 is a side" elevation of the joined ends of rails, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse s'ection through a rail joint embodying my improvements.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a base-plate having an inwardlyextending flange 2 extending along one edge thereof and terminating at its inner end in a fish-plate 3. Extending laterally from the inner face of the fish-plate is a series of stems 4, adapted to project through apertures 5, formed within rails 6, adjacent the ends there- Serial No. 187,971. (No model.)

of. A fish-plate 7, having slots 8 extending 5 downward thereinto from its upper edge, is arranged at the other side of the rails 6, and the lower walls of these slots are inclined, as shown at 9, and are adapted to project into notches 10, formed in the lower faces of the 55 stems 4. A base-flange 11 is formed integral with the fish-plate 7 and is adapted to bear upon the free edge of the base-plate 1 and to contact with the tie 12, arranged under the base-plate. Recesses 13 are formed within that edge of the base-plate from which the flange 2 extends, and apertures 14 are formed within the base-plate adjacent the other edge and are adapted to register with similar apertures formed within the base-flange 11 of fishplate 7. Said base-flange is also provided with apertures 15 near its outer edge.

In using the joint herein described the baseplate 1 is secured in, proper position upon a tie 12 by means of spikes 16,which are driven through the recesses 13. The ends of the rails to be joined are then placed upon the base-plate, with the bolt-holes therein registering with the stems 4. The base-flanges 17 of the rails 6 are then inserted under the flange 2, so as to bring the webs of the rails against the fish-plate 3 and with the stems 1 projecting therethrough. Fish-plate 7 is then inclined so as to permit the insertion of the inclined lower walls of the slots 8 under the stems 4 and into the notches 10. Said fishplate is then swung against the webs of the rails by pressing downward on the base-flange 11, and the device is held in this position by means of spikes 18 and 19, which are driven through the apertures 14: and 15, respectively. All the parts of the joint are thus securely' bound together, and the ends of the rails are firmly clamped between the twofish-plates 3 and 7.

It will be seen that'by providing a joint such as herein described it is unnecessary to employ bolts, nuts, or other similar securing devices, which are liable to work loose and become displaced. With this rail-joint the parts are held in place by the spikes ordinarily employed for securing the rails in position upon the tie. Spikes 18 prevent independent movement of the base-plate 1 and the flange 11 and also serve to assist the spikes 19 in holding said flange 11 firmly in position upon the base-flanges of the rails.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a railjoint, the combination with a fish-plate having stems projecting therefrom and adapted to enter the bolt-holes in rails, said stems having angular notches; of a second fish-plate having slots in one edge thereof for the reception of the stems, each slot having an inclined wall at one end for projecting into the notch in the stem whereby a rail may be clamped between the plates.

2. The combination with a fish-plate having a base-flange and a slot in one edge of the fish-plate and having an inclined wall at one end; of a second fish-plate having a base-flange, and a stem projecting laterally from the fishplate and adapted to project through a bolthole in a rail and the slot in the first-mentioned fish-plate, said stem having an angular notch for the reception of the inclined wall of the slot, whereby a rail may be clamped between the fish-plates.

3. In a rail-joint, the combination with rails having apertures adjacent the ends thereof; of a base-plate extending under the rails, a flange integral with one edge of the base-plate and overlapping the base-flanges at one side of the rails, a fish-plate integral with said flange, stems-projecting laterally from the fish-plate and through the apertures in the rails, said stems having angular notches therein, a fishplate at the other side of the rails and having slots extending thereinto from one edge and adapted to receive the stems, the end walls of the slots being inclined to engage the notches in the stems, a base-flange integral with the slotted fish-plate and adapted to bear upon the base-flanges of' the rail and upon the baseplate, and means for securing the engaging fish-plates in position whereby the same are caused to clamp upon the rails.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANTON O. BRUNNER.

Witnesses:

OWEN Yos'r, B. F. LEN'IZ. 

